Conveyer frame structure



5 SheeVcs-Sheet l F.J.COZZOL| CONVEYER FRAME STRUCTURE March A1s, 1947.

Original Filed Feb UUFIIHHHHHIMI JAH March 18, 1947. F.J. cozzvoLl. 42,417,633

CONVEYER FRAME STRCTURE originalV Filed Fa. 2, 1945 3 sheets-'sheet 2INVENTOR ATTORNEY March 1s, 1947.- F, J, OZZU 2,417,633

` CONVEYER FRAME STRUCTURE original Filed Fe. 2. 1943 Vs sheets-shet 5nwrsN-roRA ATToRNEY f Patented Mar. 18, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEriginal application February 2, 1943, Serial No.

475,625. Divided and this application December 20, 1943, SerialNo.514,930

2 Claims. 1 The present invention relates to machine structures and moreparticularly to improvements in the structure of base andframe elementswheremachine construction, each `capable of being easily machined, andwhich in combination with by the capaci' ty and size or a machineincorporating the invention may be enlarged or decreased to suit a usersneeds with a minimum of expense and material.

In my prior application Serial No. L$75,625, filed February 2, 1943, ofwhich the present application is a division, a washing machine isdisclosed embodying principles of this invention and in the interests ofsimplicity, that machine will be again referred to as an illustration ofthe manner in which this invention may be practiced. Itwill beunderstood that other and different types of machines may b-econstructed in a similar manner each possessing the advantages ofinexpensive initial cost and variability of capacityand size.

In the Washing machine referred to, the main framing of the machine isadapted to receive and support the conveyor mechanisms andthe washinginstrumentalities, the loading and discharge mechanisms, the drivemechanisms and the controls and is so constituted that the loadingmechansm may be eliminated or another substituted and the machine as awhole correspondingly shortened or modified without severe alteration tothe main frame structure. In a like respect, the machines productioncapacity may be varied by increasing or decreasing the washing units,without severe change in the elements making up the main base andframing.

With the aid oi the present invention it becomes possible not only toconstruct a complete machine relatively inexpensively but to adapt the Yconstruction to the individual needs and requirements of the customer.Should the customers requirements change, the machine originallyconstructed may, at small cost, likewise be changed to suit the newconditions.

A further aim of this invention is to render available a machine frameconstruction unit which, by using several, may be used to forml two ormore rail members maybeutilized to form a frame section of any desiredlength which, when assembled, has the inherent capacity to withstandextremely heavy stresses without yield1 ing or fracturing and to resistsuch twisting or distorting forces that may arisesubsequently.

In attaining the `aims of the invention it vis proposed toconnect twoleg standards'or other supports of suitable height across theirtopswitha rail section ,whose length equals thelength of the intended machine.Upon the rails are mounted one or more generally rectangular and heavilyribbed bearing plates and to the topof the plates `another railmernberis securely fastened. The structure thereby formedwprovides a sturdyside wall f cr the machine in which the bearing plates performnot only aconstruction functionbut also a means in which shaft journals, etc., maybe provided. To suit the characteristics of the machine the bearingplates may be spaced closely or apart alongthe rails without a loss inthe rigidity inherent in the rectangular structureso constituted. Theopposite side, and ends when necessary, may be similarly constituted. ofspaced rails and intervening structural bearing plates, wherebythe sidewalls of the machine is formed to the required length `and depth,providing a space between walls of ample capacity for the working partsand mechanisms of the machine.

Other objects and advantages will be vin `part indicated in thefollowing description and in part rendered apparent therefrom inconnection With the annexed drawings.V

To enable others skilled in the art so fully 'to apprehend theunderlying features hereof that they may embody thesame in the variousWays contemplated by this invention, drawings depicting a preferredtypical `construction have been annexed as a part of this disclosureand, in such drawings, like characters of reference denote correspondingparts throughout all `the viewsyof whichl Figure l is a side view of awashing machine embodying this invention.

Fig. 2 is an end view thereof partly in section, better to illustratethe capacity of the new frame structure-to ,accommodate and supportmachine elements and related mechanisms.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a typical frame structure.

Fig. 'i is` a Vperspective vieW of a'wall :section assembly.

Fig. 5 is a view of a single construction unit.

Referring to the drawings, the machine illustrated is an ampule washingmachine in which the loading and discharge mechanisms forming a part`thereof are arranged at a convenient height from the floor for easycontrol and operation and to suit other equip-ment, In this instance theheight of the machine is determined by the height of the leg standards Iand the bearing plate units I5, I6, I1, I8 rising therefrom. Each of theleg standards I9 preferably consists of a one-piece casting of box likeconstruction, as illustrated in Fig. 2, which forms a front and a rearleg for each end of the machine, A pair of rail members II and I2 are.firmly bolted or otherwise secured to the relatively wide top surfacesof the leg standards and by means of which the legs are maintained theselected distance apart and held against rocking out of vertical andagainst twisting from front to back, The portions of the rails I I andI2 that extend beyond the legstandards, if unused, may later be cut oi.

`The rails II and I2 are constructed preferably of steel stock to impartstrength and rigidity and are generally flat with relatively wide upperand lower bearing surfaces. On top of the rails are mounted bearingplate units I-I8, each of which is substantially rectangular,transversely ribbed as at r and affording bearing areas a, b, and c ofgenerous size along its upper and lower flanged edges and also on oneside. The upper ends of the bearing plate units are secured to andsupport additional rail members I3 and I4. The upper and lower railmembers, together with the intervening box-like units I5 etc. therebyforming a self-sustaining wall section, illustrated more clearly in Fig.4, capable of withstanding heavy loads and stresses that may be imposedthereon. The construction is such that by using increased or decreasedlengths of rails, and adding or removing bearing units I5-I3, the lengthof the machine may be altered and the capacity yof any specic machinechanged to suit requirements without expensive reconstruction.

` In the frame shown in Fig. 2, the side walls formed by the plates andrails provide a U-shaped structure, closed at its ends across the bottomand open along the top, (Fig. 3) within and upon which the moving andstationary elements of the machine may be mounted. The ampule washingmachine with its conveyor structure shown in the drawings isrepresentative of a machine in which a U-lshaped frame structure ofchangeable length may advantageously be employed, and will now be brieydescribed.

The conveyor mechanism that supports the washing spindles 42, travelsbetween the planes of the side walls of the frame and includes twolinked chain structures I9 and 20, whose pivot rolls-2| engage notches22 in driving and driven pairs of star wheels 23 and 24. The wheels 23and 24 are fixedly mounted to shafts 25 and 26, respectively, and theseare journaled in bearing blocks 21 and 28 supported by the rails of themain frame. Between the pair of star wheels 23 a ratchet wheel 29 isfixed and adapted to be driven intermittently by means of a springpressed pawl 39 mounted to the end of an actuating lever 3|. The otherend of the lever is pivoted to a cross support carried by the rails I3and I4 at 32 in such a position that a central portion of the leveroverlays an actuating cam or roller 33 mounted upon a main cam shaft 34.

A motor 35 mounted to bearing plate I6 drives the main shaft throughreduction gearing in a housing 36, and when operating, the actuating arm3| is caused to be raised and lowered once during each complete turn ofthe cam shaft. Each time the arm is lifted the pawl 30 engages a notchin the ratchet wheel and indexes the wheel one position. Such movements,it will be seen, advances the conveyor step by step in acounterclockwise direction (in Fig. l), leaving a dwell period betweensteps for loading and cleansing operations.

The links of the -two conveyor chains are disposed directly opposite oneanother and are bridged by removable needle trough assemblies 49 each ofwhich comprises an open ended trough member 4I having a plurality ofaligned tube supporting hollow needles 42 radiating therefrom. Eachneedle is screw threaded to the bottom of a trough and its interiorarranged to communicate With a common conduit 43 formed in the troughbottom. The conduit is closed at one end and its other end is providedwith a valve seat 44 which is adapted to cooperate intermittently withthe l valved end of fluid supply conduits 45.

In the present embodiment, eight supply stations and eight supplynozzles 45 have been illustrated. The number may, however, be increasedor decreased as desired merely by varying the number of conveyor linksand adjusting the wheel pivots along the rails accordingly. Each of thenozzles 45 is normally spring pressed toward the valve seat 44 in arelated trough assembly by a spring 46 operating between a loose collar41 and a normally tight collar 48. By adjusting the tight collar to theleft (in Fig. 2) the particular nozzle effected may be prevented frommoving.

The several nozzles are actuated outwardly by means of levers 49 thatrare secured to an oscillatable shaft 5I) journaled in brackets 5Isecured to the framing. Another lever 52 is also secured to the shaft 59and has its lower end pivotally connected to one arm of a bell cranklever 53 which in turn is pivoted at 54 in a bracket secured to theframing. The other end of the bell crank 53 carries a roller 55 thattracks on the periphery of a cam 56 secured to the cam shaft 34. Part ofthe surface of the cam 56 is relieved to provide a low portion intowhich the roller 55 drops during the movement of the conveyor. When theconveyor and the trough assemblies 40 have been indexed, the highportion of the cam 56 engagesA the roller55 and actuates the bell crankclockwise from the position illustrated in Fig. 2. This movement throughthe toggle-like connection with lever 52 rocks the shaft 50 and levers49 in a counterclockwise direction and the supply nozzles move inwardlyand seat upon the respective valve seats in the trough assemblies.

After the nozzles are seated, a valve 6D associated with each supplyline, is opened and uld is directed through one or more of the lines 6I,nozzles 45, and conduits 43 of the trough assemblies 40. Normally thevalves 60 are closed, and are opened only when their respective valvestems 52 are depressed.

mounted on the cam shaft. The cam V61 pro-q` gres'sesfrcm minimum tomaximum diameter (see 2li so that the-'valvestarel gradually. opened'yan'dif quickly closed;

The Lvalve actuating arfrnl-SS'fa'lso', duringa; cer-- tain portion ofits travel, operates thefplung'er to a closed position, the motoroperates tov drive the camshaft 3.4 andthepartsconnected therewith, of"which the valve"4 actuating and switchucontrol arm 85 is one;A 'The camshaft'will'.

mak'eapproximately one-quarter of a turni beforethe end 169 engages theplunger 'lll and closes the` switchill. Whenthis occurs the operatormay` release switch.'|2. Power operation continues.- until.` the.camroller. 65 rides off thehigh partiof the' cam. 6l. Atthis .-pointthevalve actuating s'crewsirt. are quicklyl lifted, allowingthe valves.to.- close, andthe. stem 68. lifts away from t'liel switch plunger.1|).w and the1 switch 1| i opens. Thefdrive motorthereupon stopsand themachine cornes. to. rest withv all valvesrclosed; and` withthefloadingimechanism retracted to a position ready to receivetubes.USpring elements 13, 'M andlfassist inthe retracting movements of theseveralielements.

cooperatively related with the indexing of the troughs is the operationofthe` loading rrechanism, illustrated more particularly in Fig. l,Whose function is to position the unclean ampules or tubeson the-severalneedles of successive trough assemblies' during thetime the'yjare atrest? Advantageo-usly, a horizontal position of the needles, asillustrated in these figures, is selected as the loading station. `Theloading mechanism may comprise a reciprocable carrier 88 that is guidedon the rails I3 and I4 and actuated toward and away from the needles bymechanism driven from the common cam shaft 34. A cam element 8l having agently rising side and a relatively steep side, is mounted upon the camshaft 34 for that purpose and engages a roller 82 carriedkby a pivotedlever 83. The lower end of lever 83 .connects with generally horizontallink member 84 which in turn connects with the lower end of a pivotedlever 85. The upper end of the lever 85EL has a pin and slot engagementwith the under side of the carrier 88, and as the main cam shaftrotates, the loading mechanism is reciprocated in timed relation withthe conveyor movements. A heavy spring 86 normally tends to urge theroller 82 against the cam 8| and the feed carrier 80 to retractedposition.

As illustrated in the drawings, each trough assembly carries six needleswhereby siX ampules or tubes may be loaded and subsequently washedsimultaneously. Likewise in the tube carrier 88 there are six channels88 into which unclean tubes are to be laid. The feeding and aligning ofthe ampules with the needles is effected mechanically by the overtakingaction of the individual plungers 88 which urge the respective tubesinto the polished cone shaped recesses 89 provided in centering fingers80. The centering fingers 90 move forward with the carrier 88 and areprovided with similar cone cavities 8| in their sides facing theneedles. Thus as the carrier advances, the several needles, should anybe not perfectly straight, are guided by the cone walls 9| through acentral opening 8 la therein and into the ampule or tube that iscentered in the cone on the other side.

The means for advancing the plungers 88 rela- IOL tive .terne carrier-fis iuustrated'in rig; 1i" and coma prises a sliding frameI'Il'that-is'g-uided on'rodsl |0`|`1` thatv form part of thetraveling`carrier 8|). Thefcarrier also mountsJ at its-rear portion, a`

plate |0'4 secured to the main framing;

ofthe sliding frame |88; andv bymeans of a rodlike extension |08,extends'through an aperture ||l`|`i`n a'statio'nary'crossplate 'member|88. Accordingly, as the'lcarrier 9|] moves forward, from the Apositionillustrated'in Fig. 1, the rod lllfulcrums-on the sideseo'f the openingVin the' crossplate and rocks the lever |95,` and the movement of thelever |05 is transmitted to the slide |80 andv plungers' 88" securedthereto, whereby' the latter move forward slightly'faster than theforward movement ofthe carrier;

As illustrated in Figs. l' and 2; the' ampulesoir' tubes are preventedfrom being blown off the needles when the pressure is' applied; byavertically adjustable cover ||4. This cover is open endedland normallyisset to clear the. bottoms of the inverted tubes without allowing'thetubes too much end play therebetween.

At thecompletion of the'severalcleaning` cycles the sterile tubesv arecarried from under the cover" ll and removed ordischarg'ed from' theneedles. In the embodiment illustrated herein an adjustable guideplate'` or chute |15 isy provided on which the tubes are laid as theneedles reach a position below the horizontal.'` When ,lthis" occursthesterile tubes automatically slide" off* the" needles onto the chuteand thence onto a conveyor belt IIB. The link connection and pin andrecesses 8 afford means for adjusting the chute to different tube sizes.

As above indicated the surfaces of the rail members |||4 are finishedsmooth and parallel so that when necessary, selected pairs may be usedas guides for reciprocable mechanisms, such as for example, the loadingmechanism of the. machine shown. Also the flanged edges a, b, and atleast one side c of the bearing plate members |5|8 are finished smoothand square not only to obtain uniformity in size but to provide finishedsurfaces on which other elements such as brackets, journal bearings,pivots, etc., may be mounted with precision location and operation. Theplates may in a given machine,

be turned on their sides or at angles to each other, or cut int-osmaller Width units, as may be desired to suit the machine framing plan.By employing the unit principle herein proposed the need for complicatedpatterns and castings and machining facilities for large pieces becomesunnecessary.

The flanged upper and lower edges a, and b of the bearing plate unitsare of a depth preferably many times the thickness of the ordinary Wallof a base casting which is ample to prevent a tipping of the planes 0fthe side walls. In the present illustration of the invention the depthof the anges is approximateh7 1/5 the Width or height of the unit.Additional cross bracing is however provided by the cross members of themachine assembled thereon, such as, in the present instance, by shafts25, 26, and 34.

The bearing units may be doweled and bolted to the rails, and the railsto the Wide surfaces d of the leg standards and thus each member of thebox-like assembly assists in supporting the other members and the entireassembly is braced and held true in all directions.

Without further analysis, the foregoingv will so fully reveal the gistof this invention that others can, by applying current knowledge,readily adapt it for various utilizations by retaining one or more ofthe features that, from the standpoint of the prior art, fairlyconstitute essential characteristics of either the generic or specificaspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should be,and are intended to be, comprehended within the meaning and range ofequivalency of the following claims.

Having thus revealed this invention, I claim as new and desire to securethe following combinations and elements, or equivalents thereof, byLetters Patent of the United States:

1. A supporting structure for a conveyor comprising a pair of legstandards, each of said standards comprising two spaced legs connectedat their upper ends, a pair of supporting rails of a selected lengthsecured in parallel spaced relation to the upper portions of saidstandards and transversely thereto as to form in plan view a generallyrectangular structure; a plurality of bearing plate members rising fromsaid supporting rails and connected thereto opposite one another inselected adjusted positions, a second pair of supporting rails securedin parallel spaced relation to the tops of said bearing plate mem-vbers, said opposite bearing plates, pairs of rails and upper portionsAof the leg standards forming a machine structure of changeable size andgenerally U-shaped in transverse vertical section adapted to supportmachine elements thereon and on and between the upstanding walls formedby said bearing plates.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1 in which said rails extendbeyond the leg standards at one end, and additional bearing platemembers interposed between the extended portions of the rails.

- FRANK J. COZZOLI.

REFERENCE S CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 540,311 Hills et al June 4, 1895721,725 McCabe Mar. 8, 1903 735,722 Dennis Aug. 11, 1903 744,163 BrownNov. 17, 1903 804,170 Prince Nov. 7, 1905 828,296 Baldwin Aug. 14, 1906928,365 Crowley July 20, 1909 1,362,263 Harding Sept. 7, 1920 1,428,484Lankheet Sept. 5, 1922 1,504,106 Donier Aug. 5, 1924 1,648,743 SheffieldNov. 8, 1927 1,800,428 Bebinger et al Apr. 14, 1931 1,845,066 WalterFeb. 16, 1932 1,915,359 Gilpin June 27, 1933 2,200,690 Elliott May 14,1940 2,333,112 Maris et al Nov. 2, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number CountryDate 761 British 1903 4,830 Br. 1885 128,262 Br 1919

